Page 5 of Landry

“I’d come out, but I’m on duty. Why don’t you come inside?”

Camille shook her head. “My daughter’s asleep in the back seat. I don’t want to wake her.”

“Gotcha,” Minnie said. “I’ve got a deputy on his way. Stay in the car.”

“I’m not getting out,” Camille said.

“Did you get a look at the vehicle following you? Make and model? License plate?”

Camille breathed in and out, trying to get her pulse to return to normal. “No. He was behind me with his headlights on bright. He slowed down as I got near town. Then he turned around and headed back out. By then, he was too far behind me for me to make out anything but the red taillights.”

“Deputy Clyburn is on his way. He’ll take your statement. He can also escort you home to make sure no one else follows you.”

“Thank you, Minnie,” Camille said softly. “That was just too weird. Why would someone do that?”

Minnie sighed. “Who knows? Could be some drunk, looking for a joy ride with a dash of trouble.”

“I just wanted to go home with my daughter.”

“And you will, sweetie,” Minnie assured her. “Stewie will make sure you get there safely.”

Moments later, a sheriff’s vehicle pulled into the parking lot beside Camille’s.

Deputy Stewart Clyburn unfolded his long length from the driver’s seat and approached Camille’s door. She knew him from the few times he’d been in her shop, Sweet Temptations. He’d come by on Valentine’s Day to purchase a box of chocolates for Ruth, his wife.

Camille quietly stepped out of her car, closing the door to keep Ava from overhearing her conversation with the deputy.

She repeated what she’d told dispatch. The tall, thin Deputy Clyburn made notes on his electronic pad and took a picture of her rear bumper.

“I’ll keep an eye out for drunks on the road. In the meantime, I can escort you home and check the premises to make sure you’re safe,” he offered.

“Thank you,” she said. “I’d like that.”

He waited for her to get back into her car before he returned to his service vehicle.

Though she had a law enforcement officer following her, Camille still felt edgy, her gaze darting to shadows along the roadway. When she turned into the drive leading to her cottage, her breath caught and held until she came to a stop in front of her small home.

Deputy Clyburn got out of his vehicle and held up a hand, indicating she should stay in hers until he’d performed a check on the house and surrounding premises.

Once he’d finished, he returned to open her car door for her. “All clear,” he said.

“Thank you, deputy,” she said as she got out of her car. “Be sure to stop by the store tomorrow. I’d like to show my appreciation with a sampler box of chocolates.”

“That won’t be necessary,” the deputy said. “Just doing my part to keep the community safe.”

“Commendable,” Camille said with a smile. “Then let me gift your wife with a box of chocolates for supporting her husband in his civic duties.”

Deputy Clyburn dipped his head. “Thank you, ma’am.”

Camille opened the back car door to collect Ava from her booster seat.

As Ava settled against Camille’s shoulder, she murmured, “Need to say goodnight to...” a huge yawn split Ava’s face before she could finish on a sigh, “Billy Ray.”

“I’m sure he’s already asleep as late as it is,” Camille said, juggling her front door key in one hand and her daughter in the other. She let herself in, turned and waved toward the deputy. Then she closed and locked the door.

She went through the motions of dressing Ava in her pajamas and tucking her in with a kiss.

“But I didn’t say goodnight to Billy Ray,” Ava said, already fading fast into sleep.

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